Casey Jex Smith at Allegra LaViola

Originally from Detroit, Casey Jex Smith graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute and has since showcased in numerous exhibitions all over the U.S and since last Thursday you can see his work here in NYC.
Intricate drawings combined with bold colors and influences from his ex-Mormon missionary past set his work apart and are just fascinating to look at. 

Smith is represented in NYC by Allegra LaViola  Gallery and his new exhibit "Gird Your Elves, and Be Broken In Pieces "  opened last Thursday (through July 11th)

From the Press Release:

"In ‘Gird Your Elves And Be Broken In Pieces’ Casey Jex Smith deals with personal identity and finding meaning in three seemingly disparate worlds; religion, sci-fi/fantasy, and “high-art”.
The individual pieces become blends of appropriated imagery and ideas from illustrated Bibles, Dungeons & Dragons manuals, Durer etchings, Agnes Martin paintings, Mormon architecture, NASA photos, The Lord of the Rings, and Sunday School flannel-board cut-outs which are all entered into semi-cohesive narratives. Finally these are framed within stories and inspiration taken from Scripture as well as Casey Jex Smith’s personal experience."

Altar, 22 inches x 22 inches, pencil and color pencil on paper

Church Drawing, 8 x 6 inches, pen on paper 

Church Drawing, 8 x 6 inches, pen on paper

So check out his new work at Allegra LaViola on the LES.
The gallery is conveniently located about 5 minutes from Babycakes NYC. Just saying...




Casey Jex Smith 
Gird Your Elves, and Be Broken In Pieces 
June 6 - July 11, 2009 


Allegra LaViola Gallery
179 East Broadway  New York, NY 10002
(917) 463-3901